Apparatus for charting the riding qualities of vehicles



July 23, .1929. s. w. wlDNEY APPARATUS FOR CHARTING THE RIDING QUALITIESOF' VEHICLS Filed Sept. 22, 1923 Patented July-2?.,1azz9.r i I i l1,722,069 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY W. WIDNEY, F PHILADIHPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR CHARTING THE RIDING QUALITIES 0F VEHICLES.

Application led September 22, 1923. Serial No. 684,184.

M invention is designed to provide means As illustrated in the drawings,a usual form for o taining data indicating the effects of of motorvehicle 1 has secured to wheel hubs 2 road shocks and the like uponvehicles and thereof the tubes3 for supportin the markthe parts thereofand permit the accurate ers 4, which are normally-presse outwardly 60 5determination of the relative ridability of a by the coiled springs 5.Similar tubes 6 are vehicle under varying conditions or of dilfersecuredupon therunning boards 7 and supent vehicles under similar conditions.The port markers 8 normally pressed outward by lack of such accurate andcomparable data coiled springs 9. A device such as a dummy hasheretofore hampered the scientific;l devel- 10, of such weight as to'simulate a passenger,- 65 10 opment of wheel, spring and seatconstrue-is seated upon` the spring cushion 1l and ions since thedetermination of the effect of has fixed thereto a tu ular support 12for a changes-in such constructions upon the riding marker 13, whichis'normally ressed outqualities of vehicles has heretofore been wardthrough,` the open door 14 y the cords largely dependent upon personalopinions. 15 and bowed/ elastic strips 16. A marker 17 70 15 In thepractice of my-invention, there is is connected with the top' 18 throughthe tube provided a test surface or way containing 19 and spring 20.

typical highwa defects or obstructions, and way or test course 2,1 1sprovided with the effect of suc defects or obstructions upon typical,defects and obstructions, such as the the various parts of the vehicleare recorded hump 22, thank you-maam 23, hole 24, v715 by a marker ormarkers carried by the vehicle wash-board ridges 25 and depression 26.upon a chart pd'ralleling the line of travel and Charts 27, preferablyprovided f' with a preferably having thereon a datum line C011- datumline 28 conforming with the contour of forming to the contour of thesurfaceiof the the surface of the'way 21, are carried by the r way orroad over which the vehicle travels. supports 29 along the sides of theway 21 and 80 The markers may be connected' with such in the paths ofthemarkers 4, 8, and 13. The parts of the vehicle as are Vnecessary toindichart supports may ,be suspended vertically cate the modifyinginfluence of the various fromelastic hangers 30 depending from postsresilient vehicle members tending to absorb 31 and have their lower endscontrolled by f shocks. For instance, a marker may be car-v elastic/tiemembers 32 anchors/ in the recesses 95 30 ried by a` wheel hub toindicate the modify- 33. A further/chart 27 m y be supported inginfluence ofthe tire and members transhorizontally above the vehicle bya member mitting the load tothe axle y another marker 29f connected withthe po s 81. At the enmay' be connected with the chassis or body tranceto the wa 21, the hart ,su ports are .to indicate the modifying`influence of the preferabl flare so as pro/vi e gradual 90 ve iclesprings; another marker may be concontact o Athe markers w th thecharts. Y nectedwith a dummy on a seat to indicate It will be understoo,that when suitably the modifying influence of the upholstery;cross-lined charts havefbeen-fixed in position and another marker may beconnected with with the datum lines 28 thereon in correthe top toindicate ,side sway. By comparas ondence with the contour of the surfaceof 95 i 40 tive study of data thus obtained, the detert e way, a vehiclewith its markers in place mination of the factors tending to produce isdriven at suitable speed along the way. stability and the transportationof a vehicle The markers record upon the charts the exact occupant inthe desired substantially constant movements of the wheel hubs, bod seatand plane, without bumps or swaying, is facilitop, thereb clearlyshowing the e ects'of the 100 tated. Such compa/rative study may be madeseveral de ects and obstructions in the'road from the charts themselves;from reduced reupon the various parts of the vehicle', and theproductions thereof; or from mathematical modifying influence of thetires, wheels, deductions derived from the charts. spri/ngs andupholstery. lBy comparative The accom anying drawings illustrate thetests over standardized ways accurate conclu- 105 application o myinvention to the determinasions may be reached as to the comparativetion of the riding qualities of a motor vehicle. ridinfr qualities ofvarious vehicles and as to In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of amodications of construction necessary to way, chart and vehicle suitablefor the ppracimprove such riding qualities. tice ofvmy invention; Fig. 2is an end view Having described my invention, I. claim: 110 thereof; andFi 3 is a top plan view with 1. The means for obtaining data indicatthevvhorizontal c art removed. ing the effect of road shocks and the likeupon vehicles or parts thereof which comprises the combination with avehicle Way, and a vehicle of a chart extending along said Way, and amarker carried by said vehicle in contact with said chart. v

2. The means lrfor obtaining data indicat- Y ing the eifect of roadshocks or the like upon vehicles or parts thereof which comprises thecombination with a vehicle and a Way having a known contour, of a chartprovided With a datum lineconforming with the contour of said Way, andamarker carried by said vehicle said marker contacting With and recordingits movem-ents .upon said chart, said chart being supportedindependently of the vehicle. 1

3. The means for determining theriding qualities of vehicles whichcomprisesthe combination with a vehicle and an uneven Way, of a`yieldingly supported chart extending vmarkers connected With relativelymovable parts of said vehicle, said markers contacting with andrecording the movements of the respective parts upon said chart.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my name this 19th day ofSeptember, 1923.

' STANLEY W. WIDNEY.

